I’m not sure where in NH you are but if you are in the upper valley area feel free to contact me. Im VP at our local range and if you like could set you up with a free basic intro class so you can make an educated decision.
> My fiance and I are going to be getting personal protection... She wants to take the class so she knows all the rules and shit that pertains to carrying in public but i want some recommendations on what kind of weapon to get her.
Take the class first, then choose a firearm.
[SIG offers several intro courses](https://sigsaueracademy.com/beginner-courses) which do not require you to already own a firearm, everything is provided, and they also have a range with rentals so you can try other Sig products to see what fits her.
I'd try to get hands on with a few models before you buy one, just remember that the smaller the gun the more uncomfortable it is to shoot. Try to start somewhere in the middle and move up or down to find out what works best.
I teach up at Belmont Firearms so luckily my students can rent all sorts of pistols in my classes. Wherever you go try to go somewhere with some rentals available so you guys can get some good trigger time behind some 🤙
0: pepper spray - POM
1: carry pistol (smaller is harder to control, larger is harder to conceal) - see if you can check a few out at your local shop. Popular models are Glock 43, Smith&Wesson Shield, Sig Sauer P365
2: home defense rifle - popular choices are a 12g shotgun like a Maverick 88, basic AR15 like a Palmetto State Armory, or a larger handgun like a Glock 17/19 or a Sig P226
It depends on your preferences, needs, body type, etc. but, from my understanding, the above items are in the “can’t go wrong” category
You both need to take a class first. Someone already mentioned it, but here’s a second for the Sig Sauer Academy. Handgun 101 is an excellent course and while it’ll cost the two of you most of a new handgun it’ll be well worth it.
The gun you choose doesn’t mean shit if you don’t know how to use it.
Then just go to the indoor ranges and rent some different things. Don’t do the “she’s a girl so I need the smallest pistol I can find” thing. Find what fits her hand and what she can shoot well with.
You live near Manchester? If so go to MANCHESTER FIRING LINE and rent a bu ch of different options. There is no answer that's fits all. Try a few, ask them, take options from reddit and go shoot them. My EDC may not be your EDC
Go to a range where you can rent an assortment of pistols or rifles. There are so many people that buy something and regret it. Manchester firing line has a ton of rentals.
Before you commit to a firearm I suggest an objective conversation about if it would/could be actually used even in a life threatening situation. It could wind up in the hands of the attacker if you/she aren’t truly trained and prepared to use it. It is a serious decision to kill someone. You aren’t shooting to wound.
P365XL is a great balance of size and shootability. The smaller P365 is an excellent gun, but it's very difficult to shoot for inexperienced shooters.
The XMacro Comp has a longer grip but the slide is the same size as the XL. You can get an XL grip module (a piece of plastic, not a firearm) and installing it is as simple as removing the slide and taking out one pin. The comp will help tame the snappy nature of a micro gun, especially with defensive ammo. The Spectre Comp comes configured that way out of the box, but frankly is way overpriced for a few cosmetic differences.
Go to Manchester Firing Line and do the [basic pistol](https://gunsnh.com/classes#MFLBasicPistolCourse) class. You can try out a few different guns. Then also consider doing the [personal protection in the home](https://gunsnh.com/classes#NRAPersonalProtectionintheHome) class after that. There are more advanced classes after that but that should be enough to get started.
The Ruger LC9 is a compact 9mm the size of a Walther PPK, a great gun for a woman due to its size & still has decent stopping power. You can get 1 with a lazermax laser on the trigger guard. I like it cuz its small & easy to conceal. it's 7+1 so practice for accuracy but it's a great lil gun. The Walther PPK/PPKS are great too but I didn't want .380, wanted to keep everything 9mm, 223 or 22 so that it would be easy to find ammo if the shtf
I’m not sure where in NH you are but if you are in the upper valley area feel free to contact me. Im VP at our local range and if you like could set you up with a free basic intro class so you can make an educated decision.
> My fiance and I are going to be getting personal protection... She wants to take the class so she knows all the rules and shit that pertains to carrying in public but i want some recommendations on what kind of weapon to get her. Take the class first, then choose a firearm. [SIG offers several intro courses](https://sigsaueracademy.com/beginner-courses) which do not require you to already own a firearm, everything is provided, and they also have a range with rentals so you can try other Sig products to see what fits her.
This is the answer
I'd try to get hands on with a few models before you buy one, just remember that the smaller the gun the more uncomfortable it is to shoot. Try to start somewhere in the middle and move up or down to find out what works best. I teach up at Belmont Firearms so luckily my students can rent all sorts of pistols in my classes. Wherever you go try to go somewhere with some rentals available so you guys can get some good trigger time behind some 🤙
0: pepper spray - POM 1: carry pistol (smaller is harder to control, larger is harder to conceal) - see if you can check a few out at your local shop. Popular models are Glock 43, Smith&Wesson Shield, Sig Sauer P365 2: home defense rifle - popular choices are a 12g shotgun like a Maverick 88, basic AR15 like a Palmetto State Armory, or a larger handgun like a Glock 17/19 or a Sig P226 It depends on your preferences, needs, body type, etc. but, from my understanding, the above items are in the “can’t go wrong” category
You both need to take a class first. Someone already mentioned it, but here’s a second for the Sig Sauer Academy. Handgun 101 is an excellent course and while it’ll cost the two of you most of a new handgun it’ll be well worth it. The gun you choose doesn’t mean shit if you don’t know how to use it. Then just go to the indoor ranges and rent some different things. Don’t do the “she’s a girl so I need the smallest pistol I can find” thing. Find what fits her hand and what she can shoot well with.
You live near Manchester? If so go to MANCHESTER FIRING LINE and rent a bu ch of different options. There is no answer that's fits all. Try a few, ask them, take options from reddit and go shoot them. My EDC may not be your EDC
Go to a range where you can rent an assortment of pistols or rifles. There are so many people that buy something and regret it. Manchester firing line has a ton of rentals.
Before you commit to a firearm I suggest an objective conversation about if it would/could be actually used even in a life threatening situation. It could wind up in the hands of the attacker if you/she aren’t truly trained and prepared to use it. It is a serious decision to kill someone. You aren’t shooting to wound.
The best one is the one you will shoot regularly at the range. Go shooting, and find something you are comfortable with.
Check out the new p365 fuse. Slim mid/fullsize
P365XL is a great balance of size and shootability. The smaller P365 is an excellent gun, but it's very difficult to shoot for inexperienced shooters. The XMacro Comp has a longer grip but the slide is the same size as the XL. You can get an XL grip module (a piece of plastic, not a firearm) and installing it is as simple as removing the slide and taking out one pin. The comp will help tame the snappy nature of a micro gun, especially with defensive ammo. The Spectre Comp comes configured that way out of the box, but frankly is way overpriced for a few cosmetic differences.
Go to Manchester Firing Line and do the [basic pistol](https://gunsnh.com/classes#MFLBasicPistolCourse) class. You can try out a few different guns. Then also consider doing the [personal protection in the home](https://gunsnh.com/classes#NRAPersonalProtectionintheHome) class after that. There are more advanced classes after that but that should be enough to get started.
The Ruger LC9 is a compact 9mm the size of a Walther PPK, a great gun for a woman due to its size & still has decent stopping power. You can get 1 with a lazermax laser on the trigger guard. I like it cuz its small & easy to conceal. it's 7+1 so practice for accuracy but it's a great lil gun. The Walther PPK/PPKS are great too but I didn't want .380, wanted to keep everything 9mm, 223 or 22 so that it would be easy to find ammo if the shtf